Some Year-End Thoughts

ETA: I thought I had saved this post as a draft, but I guess not. :) It was not finished and I've added more links for you.

Here are some articles to make you think through the past 2012 and look ahead to 2013! I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!

Where Was God in All the Goodness in 2012?

When the Perfect Comes -  "To all you who find yourself at the end of this year poor in spirit (Matthew 5:3), humbled, desolate, and in desperate need of what only God can provide, the perfect day of the all-abundant kingdom is coming."

From This Life to the Next

Bible Reading Plans 2013 - if you are a Bible reader (HERE is a helpful article how NOT to read it). If you're not a reader, make 2013 the year you become one!

23 Reasons to be Joyful from the book of Philippians

Some fun and helpful links:

Facebook's New Privacy Setting

The Power of  Les Miserables -

Top 100 Pictures of the Day from the Twisted Sifter -

The Year 2012 in Numbers

And in case you missed it, here's my Favorite Projects of 2012 post. Happy New Year, friends!

My Favorite Projects of 2012

Please click on the photo to go to the original post.

Merry Christmas!

Hello, friends! Sorry for my absence. Christmas is always a busy time being in full-time ministry, having guests, hosting, etc. I'm not complaining. I love doing all these things, but it means I've had to slow down on other things I do, like blogging.

I have a fancy Christmas card to share with you all today. I first distressed and stitched the edges of the Melissa Frances patterned paper, then laid a pretty doily right in the center. I adhered a sticker in the center of the doily and some beautiful B.Y.O.B. 1 Build your own Bling - Donna Salazar Design bling.

I then took a Pine Tree Chipboard Embellishments - Pack of 4 and traced it on the back of a patterned paper, fussy cut it, adhered to the chipboard and inked the edges. I finished the tree by placing some Sleek Strips Silver Rhinestones- Self Adhesive to mimic a garland.

The sentiment is from The Craft's Meow's Stitched Sentiments Two stamp set. I finished the card by adhering a rose from the Red Rose Ribbon 1" with a double seam binding bow tucked underneath.

I just want to take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a wonderful and memorable Christmas and New Year!I want to end with a link to one of the best messages I've heard about Christmas. If you just have one sermon to listen to about Christmas, this is it. It will change how you've always viewed the nativity of Jesus Christ and understand His incarnation in a mind-blowing, life-changing way!

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us..." John 1:14

Weeping With Those Who Weep

Hi, friends! I apologize for having been quiet around here. As many of you are, my family and I have also been tremendously grieved by the tragic events that took place in Newtown, CT. It's a place that is close to our hearts as we have many great friends living there which we have had the privilege to enjoy visiting in the past. 

My prayers are with those dear people affected by it. I cannot imagine what they are going through, but thankfully there is a God who does. It's a sad world we live in, but how comforting that we can have hope in Christ, who is able to give unimaginable comfort amidst unspeakable evil.

I gathered here some links, sources of encouragement and comfort that I hope you will find helpful.

Weeping With Those Who Weep, a great article written by our friend Joey who is a pastor in Newtown.

An insightful commentary, Rachel Weeping for Her Children, by one of my favorite preachers, Dr. Al Mohler. 

A Pastoral Response to the Newtown Massacre, a 5-min audio by Dr. John MacArthur

Safe in the Arms of God, an excellent book that offers biblical comfort to parents grieving the loss of their little ones.

Every day is a gift from the Lord. Hug your precious kids a little tighter and a little longer. I know I do!

Birthday Greetings

I have some non-holiday cards for you today, but they are related to Christmas. These two cards are part of a set that I'm giving away as a gift to a friend. It's great to mass produce cards that follow the same layout, but with different elements to make each one unique. It's also great to use up some supplies that I have hoarded for far too long :).

The papers, stickers and resin crown are by Melissa Frances. The sentiment is from The Craft's Meow's Stitched Sentiments Two, this month's free with $50 purchase.

The background was distressed and stitched on the edges. The flower is by Prima. And I tucked the seam binding underneath it.

I'm busy preparing for our church's Women's Christmas party tomorrow. The ladies of our church made these lovely quilted pillow cases and Bible covers as party favors.  Aren't they beautiful? I had nothing to do with making these. I can only stitch straight. :) I was just in charge of wrapping them and making little tags.

Stay warm and enjoy the weekend, friends!

TCM Valentine Blog Hop and Winners!

I'm so glad that you have come to join The Craft's Meow's Valentine Blog Hop featuring TCM's Valentine/Love stamp sets, which are all on sale right now at 15% off through December 16th. The code is Valentine at checkout.

If you came from Lindsay Amrhein's blog, then you're at the right spot. My card for today uses one of my favorite sets because it allows me to make my favorite vintage/shabby cards. The Cherished stamp set is also perfect for those who like to color. Here I just colored the hydrangea image and left the background as is.

I distressed the hyrangea panel and stitched the edges. The hearts are stitched in the middle and came from my Spellbinders' Home Sweet Home dies. The papers are Melissa Frances. I tucked the words underneath the bow.

Your next stop is my friend Sharri Seffens. To see the list of participants and the info about the giveaway, please visit the TCM blog.

And now, the two winners of my giveaway are...

Peggy and Anita Braddock

Winners, congratulations and please send me your info (via Contact tab above) by this Saturday morning (earlier would be better!) in order to claim the  prize. This will help with organization and avoiding confusion. And my parents, who will do the mailing for me, will be leaving soon to come visit us, so there's not a lot of time to get the prizes out to you in a timely manner. Thank you all for participating. I will have another giveaway sometime next month.

Fireplace Noel

Hello, friends. I hope you are all staying warm. We've had the biggest snowfall over the weekend since the 1950's. My girls had fun.

I have a card for you today that i share on the Want2Scrap blog. Want2Scrap bling is just the perfect embellishment on my Christmas cards. I started with the fireplace image from The Craft's Meow's Hearth and Home stamp set. The little tag is from Spellbinders' Home Sweet Home dies set.

I highlighted the fireplace using the Beautiful Bling Borders-Fancy Waves! and Sleek Strips Silver Rhinestones- Self Adhesive. The papers are Carta Bella. 

Don't forget to enter my BLOG GIVEAWAY going on till tomorrow where I'm picking TWO winners to get this:

S5-141 Sweet Folk Art

CAS Christmas Cards and Giveaway!

Hello, friends! I have more dehoarding projects for you today.I showed you the first one during the TCM Holiday Card Blog Hop. I used my Spellbinders Sweet Folk Art dies for this set of cards. I altered the stocking decoration for each card for variety. I wanted to see how they will look with different embellishments. The papers are My Mind's Eye. The sentiment is TCM's Holiday Foundations. The first one just used twine.

This one uses coordinating buttons.

And finally with some Want2Scrap bling. The first card I shared used lace.

Now, how about a giveaway! I will give pick TWO winners to win this

S5-141 Sweet Folk Art

You have THREE ways to enter:

1. Simply leave a comment on this post and tell me how you will use these dies for your holiday festivities:
2. Follow this blog then leave another comment. If you're already a follower, do the same.
3. "Like" my NinaB Designs Facebook page, then leave another comment.

You have until Tuesday,  December 11, to leave a comment. I will announce the TWO winners on the 12th. Winners will have until the 15th to send me their info (via Contact tab above) in order to claim the  prize. This will help with organization and avoiding confusion. And my parents, who will do the mailing for me, will be leaving soon to come visit us. Thanks for understanding!

Have a great weekend!

Shabby Poinsettia

I have another Christmas card for you today that I shared on the Want2Scrap blog the other day. For my focal image, I used Spellbinders' Poinsettia dies. I die cut it three time white, red and olive cardstock and layered them. I put 3 rhinestones from the 72 Count - Silver/Clear Rhinestones - Self Adhesive in the center of the flower.

I love the details of these flowers. I highlighted the Spellbinders Labels 8 frame die cut and my sentiment (from The Craft's Meow's Season' Greetings stamp set) with the ends of the Classy Corners- Class. The papers are My Mind's Eye.

Have a super creative day!

A couple of challenge cards

Hi, friends! I've been hit with another cold/flu bug and was not online for a few days. I'm rarely sick and now I've been battling one thing after another. The upside is nobody else seems to have caught whatever it is that ails me. I hope it stays that way.

I have two cards for you today for two challenges. The first is for The Craft's Meow's December sketch challenge. I used Vintage Clock for this card and some leftover Simple Stories Summer Fresh papers.

Here is the sketch:

My next card is for the Crafty Friends' Challenge. Beate challenged us to create a CAS (clean and simple) card. This may not qualify as CAS with 3 layers, but it's simpler than my usual style :).

I used my Vintage Clock set again for this one (the clock in the background and the sentiment). The lovely die cut is Spellbinders Morrocan Motif die.

I hope you can play along with these two challenges. Before I go, please check out the Simon Says Stamps blog where they are featuring my cards. And there's a giveaway, too! Have a great week!

The Craft's Meow's November Release Blog Hop

Welcome to The Craft's Meow's November Release Blog Hop. If you came from Mabelle R-O's blog, then you're at the right spot. To see the full list, make sure you visit the TCM blog. I have two cards for you today. The first uses my brand new set, Beautiful Shelf .

I paper pieced the shelf and colored the rest with Copic markers. The papers are My Mind's Eye Caroline.

My second card uses Mabelle R-O's Valentine Wishes. The girl's dress was paper pieced. I framed her using some Spellbinders' Floral Ovals dies.

The sentiment is from my new set, Stitched Sentiments Two, the new Free set with $50 purchase. The papers are again My Mind's Eye.

TCM is giving away the new 4 sets. To be eligible, you will need to visit & comment on each blog on the hop. The deadline to comment is 9:00pm PDT, Sunday, Dec 2nd.

Before you go, I want to tell you about a special sale we're having through Sunday... take 25% all Holiday/Winter stamp sets!!! Just enter the code Winter25 at check-out. Hurry for the best selection! The sale ends at 11:59 pm Pacific Standard Time on Sunday, December 2nd.

Your next stop is my friend -->> Sharri<<--. Happy hopping!

TCM Previews: Zoom Goes My Heart

Welcome to day four of The Craft's Meow's November Release. Today, we're showcasing a set by Ms. Karen called Zoom Goes My Heart. It's such a fun set for kids and masculine cards.

My card below is for my daughter. The full tank gauge fits perfectly in a circle punch or Spellbinder die. I love that sweet sentiment.

The papers are October Afternoon's Sidewalk. A small Want2Scrap pearl bling colored with a Copic marker and twine are the embellishments.

Please make sure you stop by the TCM blog for more info on today's giveaway and inspiration! Have a great day!

TCM Previews: Beautiful Shelf

Welcome to day three of The Craft's Meow's November Release. Today, we're showcasing another set that I designed called Beautiful Shelf.

It's going to be a part of a series of sets that coordinate together. Be on the look out for future releases (themed and seasonal) that will work well with this set. For now, we start with the basic set with the shelf and some pretty little things you can use to add to it. I also want to note that the shelf also can be used as a credenza/sideboard/cupboard.

On my card below, I used the shelf as a sideboard that sits on the floor. I don't know if you can see it, but the white strip mimics a baseboard. The pretty background paper is the wall paper and the stripes mimic the flooring.

I colored the vase of flowers with Copics, paper pieced the "shelf" with woodgrain paper. The sentiment is from yesterday's set, Stitched Sentiments Two. The papers are My Mind's Eye.

Please make sure you stop by the TCM blog for more info on today's giveaway and inspiration! Have a great day!

TCM Previews: Stitched Sentiments Two

Welcome to day two of The Craft's Meow's November Release. We're showing today the Stitched Sentiments Two, which is part two of a previous (and very popular) set, Stitched Sentiments. I designed both sets to coordinate with the many sewing-themed stamps I illustrated (Sew Happy, Sew Lovely, Stitched Flowers).  Stitched Sentiments Two is this release's FREE set with a $50 purchase!

For my card today, I used Stitched Flowers and colored them with Copics to match the My Mind's Eye papers. I layered two flowers and curled up the petals of the top flower. To highlight the sentiment from Stitched Sentiments Two, I framed it with some Want2Scrap "rock" Nestabling. :) Some salmon seam binding (from Ribbon Carousel) and coordinating button finish the card.

Please make sure you stop by the TCM blog for more info on today's giveaway and inspiration! Have a great day!

TCM Previews: Valentine Wishes and Winners!

Hello, friends. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend! We don't have Thanksgiving here in Croatia, but we celebrated it as a family. We even had our own version of Black Friday (without the deals :( ) and finished our Christmas shopping. Then the weekend was spent at church and cleaning my house. After I've been sick for a couple of weeks, I've been playing catch up. It's been busy and so I apologize for the delay in announcing the winners of the NinaB Designs blog hop. Please scroll below!

The Craft's Meow team has previews this week for our November release. Today's set is one by Mabelle RO called Valentine Wishes. It's her signature cute and adorable style that is so fun to color and/or paper piece like I did below.

I colored her hair and pants with Copics and paper pieced the dress. The papers are My Mind's Eye. I adorned my card with some Want2Scrap bling.

Please make sure you stop by the TCM blog for more info on today's giveaway and inspiration!

Now, for the winner of the NinaB Designs Blog Hop. Prize #1 came from my blog and goes to...Lagene! Prize #2 came from Julie Overby's blog and goes to...Pam! Winners, please email (via Contact tab above) me with your info within 4 days (till Nov 30) in order to claim the  prize. This will help with organization and avoiding confusion. Thanks for understanding and happy hopping!

More Use-My-Stash projects

I have more projects to share with you today using my stash. I used my favorite Simple Stories paper stack for these cards. My first one uses a sentiment from Penny Black's Foliage Fancy stamp set.

This one uses a chipboard bird by Basic Grey. The sentiment is from Penny Black's Petal Party stamp set.

This card uses some die cuts using Spellbinders' Morrocan Accents and Motifs and The Craft's Meow's Love Dwells Here stamp set. The rosette is by American Crafts.

To all our American friends, we hope you all have a wonderful and safe thanksgiving weekend. It's an ordinary day here with school :(, but we'll celebrate with a special dinner that includes some treasured finds from the local markets (ribs and sweet potatoes). 

"Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!" (2Cor. 9:15)